A new watchdog will soon be adding another layer of oversight to BART’s finances.

Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday appointed former Palo Alto city auditor Harriet Richardson as BART’s first Inspector General. She’ll be in charge of independently overseeing the agency’s finances and compliance with state and federal law. In that capacity, she will conduct her own audits and investigations into the agency and provide reports to BART’s governing board, the state legislature and the public.

“It’s another tool for us,” said board Director Debora Allen, adding that the new inspector general would help the board understand the agency’s spending and resources, investigate issues of concern and gain a better understanding of the agency they lead. She added, “She’s also a person who will respond to the public, the riders, vendors, stakeholders and even employees.”

Richardson’s new position is part of legislation that authorized a regional, nine-county vote on the latest bridge toll hike, Regional Measure 3. Sen. Steve Glazer, D-Orinda, authored an amendment creating the new post. Voters last year approved the $3 toll increase, spread out over six years, to provide $4.45 billion over the next decade for a suite of transportation projects.

As part of that plan, BART is expected to received $500 million to help pay for more new train cars, which will help the agency increase capacity throughout the system, as well as $375 million to partially fund a four-station extension into downtown San Jose and Santa Clara.

With more money flowing to BART, Glazer said the inspector general position was intended to ensure BART is spending those funds wisely and maintaining the trust of riders and voters, which has been eroding as complaints rise over cleanliness and crime. Richardson will oversee both operations and capital projects.

“It’s a confidence-boosting opportunity,” for the agency, Glazer said Friday. “It will provide a second set of eyes and ears on BART that is independent of management and without the worry of pleasing political power.”

He added, “We all want BART to be the best it can be.”

BART used a recruiting firm to solicit applications nationwide, said Board President Bevan Dufty. Of the 30 applicants who applied, 14 met the district’s qualifications, he said. Richardson was the only candidate who received unanimous support from the eight members of the board who were present to vote for her nomination, he said.

“I think that says a lot,” he said.

She stood out from other candidates, Dufty said, because of the breadth of her experience and because she had also worked in a small department where she was responsible for much of the daily operations, he said. As the first person in the post, she’ll be in charge of setting up the new office, overseeing a $1 million budget that comes from tolls funds.

“She was a candidate who could roll up her sleeves and get the job done,” he said. “We also felt like she really knew the Bay Area and had such a diverse range of experience.”

Before working for the city of Palo Alto, Richardson served as the audit director for the city of San Francisco and the audit manager and deputy director of the city of Berkeley’s Auditor’s Office, among other positions, BART said. And Dufty said she’s received six audit awards from the Association of Local Government Auditors for her work.

Richardson’s start date has yet to be determined, said Chris Filippi, a spokesman for BART. She will serve a four-year term.

Erin Baldassari covers transportation, the Bay Area's housing shortage and breaking news. She served on the East Bay Times' 2017 Pulitzer Prize winning team for its coverage of the Ghost Ship fire. But most of all, she cares deeply about local news and hopes you do, too. If you'd like to support local journalism, please subscribe today.